Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Oct. 5, 1937. H. c. vANTAssEL RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS YINVENTOR yC. Vanzssel.

Filed OCQ. 18, 1935 g2 HIS ATTORNEY 'Ocf- 5, 1937 H. c.' vANTAs'sx-:L

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed oct. 18.` .1955

2 sheets-she# 2 -HIS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATESRAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Harry C. Vantassel, Swissvale,Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application October 18, 1935, Serial No.45,612

14 Claims. f (Cl. 246-134) My invention relates to railway traiccontrolling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus which willgive maximum protection to traiiic movements over non-track circuitedsections of a track layout.

The apparatus of my invention is an improvement over that disclosed inthe copending applications Serial No. 125,659, led July 29, 1926, byHerbert A. Wallace for Railway traic controlling apparatus; Serial No.313,772, filed October 20, 1928, by Howard A. Thompson for Multiple`control apparatus; and Serial No. 416,061, led December 23, 1929, byHoward A; Thompson for Multiple control apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are y diagrammatic viewsshowing alternative forms of circuits and apparatus, each embodying myinvention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theviews.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the reference characters la and lb designatethe rails of a stretch of railway track designated Y, the rails of whichare divided by insulated joints 2 to form track sections T, IT, and 3T,respectively. Each track section is provided with the usual trackcircuit including a track battery 3 and a track relay designated R witha prefix designating the section to which it belongs. A siding Z isconnected with section 3T through the medium of a switch designated W3.Y

The stretch of track Y is provided for normal traic movements from leftto right, while a similar stretch of track X is provided for normaltraic movements from right to left, a crossover having associatedswitches WI and Wla being provided to permit trame movements betweentracks X and Y. Signals L4A and L4B are provided for directing traicmovements toward the leit over switch Wl'a in its normal position andover switches Wla and WI in their reverse position, respectively; whilesignals R2A and R2B are provided for directing traflic movements towardthe right over switch WI in its normal position and over switches WI andWI a in their reverse positions, respectively. The slow speed signalsLtA, LtB, and L2 are provided for directing traine movements toward theleft over switch W3 normal, switch W3 reversed and over switch WInormal, respectively. The slow speed signal R4 is providedfor directingtraffic movements toward the right over switch Wla normal. The stretchof track X is provided with two track circuited sections AIT and A2T,respectively. The portion of the crossover between sections IT and AITincludes a non-track circuited section U, and therefore other means, aswill appear hereinafter, is provided to provide protection for traicmovements between tracks X and Y.

'The movement of traffic over tracks X, Y, and

Z is under the control of an operator and is effected by means of theinterlocked signal control levers V2 and Vt and the switch controllevers VI and V9. These levers are of a type commonly employed in powerinterlocking practice and each is provided with an electric lockcontrolled by a lock magnet M identied by a numerical suiiixcorresponding to the lever it controls. In addition, track repeatingstick relays ITPS and AITPS, and route locking relays IES and IWS areprovided for controlling the lever locking. A local source of directcurrent is provided for energizing the various relays and magnets, butto simplify the drawings, only the terminals of the source have beenshown, these bearing the references B and C to designate the supply andcommon return terminals, respectively, of the source. Relay lTPS isnormally energized and has a pick-up` circuit which may be traced fromterminal B of the local source of current, front ycontact il of thetrack relay ITR, relay ITPS, front contact l2 of relay IWS, contact NLof lever V2, to the other terminal C of the source. A stick circuit forrelay ITPS is also closed, and may be traced from terminal B, contact IIof relay ITR,

'the winding and front contact 32 of relay ITPS to terminal C.

Relay AITPS is normally energized, and has a pick-up circuit which maybe traced from terminal B over front contact I3 of the track relay AITR,relay AI'I'PS, front contact I4 of relay IES in multiple with normallyclosed contact N332 of switch lever VI contact NR of signal lever Vt toterminal C. A stick circuit for relay AITPS is also closed, and may betraced from terminal B, contact I3 of relay AITR, the winding and frontcontact i2 oi relay AITPS to terminal C. Route locking relay IES has apick-up circuit which may be traced from terminal B, contact Ld ofsignal lever V2, front contact I5 of relay ITPS, contact NI of lever VIand back contact 35 of relay AITPS in multiple, relay IES to terminal.C. Relay IES is normally energized over its stick circuit, which may betraced from terminal B, contact Ld cf lever V2, front contact Iii andwinding of relay` EES to terminal C. Relay ViWS hasy a lpick-up circuitwhich may be traced from terminal B over contacts Rb of lever V4 andN323 or lever Vi in multiple, contact 3l of relay AiTPS, back contact 33of relay ITPS, relay I WS to terminal C. Relay IWS is normally energizedlover its stick circuit, which may be traced from terminal B overcontacts Rb of lever V4 and Nm3 of lever VI, in, multiple, front contact41 and winding of relay iWS to terminal C.

The signal lever lock magnets M2 and M4 are held energized over circuitsincluding contact 4 of the track relay TR and 5 of the track relay AZTR,respectively, as is obvious from the drawings, so that their lockingdogs I'I and I8 are held Y VY50 f contacts ofjthe signal'lever used'inthe control i f' Yoftengagement with theirr'locki'ng segmentsV f I9V and20, respectively.' These levers Aare there'- 1'0 Y Y 4 tracedfrom'terminal B, front contact'25 of relay Y Vfore normally free'to bemoved by the operator. VThe switch lever lock-magnetsY MI and M3are also'energized,Y so that their respective locking dogs 2I and 22 are heldout oiv engagement Ywith the notchesof'their respective segments 23V and24; 'The switchcontrol'levers VI. and V3 are ac-V cordinglyalsognormally'fr'ee to be Ymoved by the operator- The circuit formagnetMI may be IWS, front contact'26 of relay I TPS,'back contact 36 of Va.time element mechanism A4'I'E, magnet v MI, backV contact 3I `of asecondtimeelement f VVmechanism A2TE, front. contact-[2lv of s relay AYIT'PS,frontcontactZ of relay IES, to terminal C.V Thercircuit Vfor magnet M3mayV be .traced 'Y from terminal kB',frontfcontacts 29 and 30 of40"and-381w hich Ymay be closedjat times'to bridge Y 'relays` STR andIES,"respectively, magnet M3, to

terminal C. The 'timer elementmechanismAZTE is provided with av'pairofnormally open contacts contact/s4 and,35 inthe circuitsforrma'gnet M2 Y*Yand 'relayjfIES respectively, f Timef'elementmechanism A4TE Yhassimilar contacts 4I and 39j Y which may beV closed at times tobridgecontacts Sand 33 in thecircuits'formagnet M4 and relay IW S,respectively. Y

' Vploye'd 'has no bearing on the present invention,YY

`nonef'of ther-signal'cir'cuits have been shown.'v it 'is believedsufficient toQexplainjthat, asV in ordi-VV Vnarypractice, when signallever V2 jis moved Yto.` Y 1 its R'positiomsignal RZA or RZB will becleared dependingron Vwhether switches WI and WIa are WIVV and WIa andswitch machine SM3 @for .con-VVV TheV circuits employedV inV theVcontrol of. theV several' signals shown may comprise anyone ofVY severalwellknown arrangements, but since the particular arrangement of,signalrcircuits emf in'thernormal or reversezposition', respectively,

.and that/'signal'LZ will be cleared when switches W I 'and' WIor are intheir .normal position Vand- Ylever V2Vis moved to the Lposition. In asimilar l manner, when signal'lever V4 is moved to its R Vposition andswitches WI andV Wla. are intheir Vnormal position, signal R4.,will`becleared, and

s'ignal"L4A"orV LB will 4be `cleared'when signal leverV4isrmovedrtogits1i position, depending on whether switches WIfandfrWIaare in thegnorm'al or reverse position',respectively.` VAs none fof thecircuits embodied in the present'invention'employ of signals LBA andLGB, the'leverforrcontrolling Vthese signals has notV been shown.

` VVAs'thejcirc'zuits vemployed to control switch machines VSMI and SMIafor controlling Yswitches Y' Vvtrolling','switchW3 Vform Vno Vpart ofthe present invention, they have Valso been omitted from the drawings.YIt is believed suflicient to explain that when switch control leverVIis moved toposition Y o, N, Yasc shown, the switchmachines SMIand'SMlI'a will be operated to move their'switches'to the'Vnormalvposition', and that similarly when lever, VI Vis moved-toposition R, itwill be eie'ctive lto VcauseY the Yswitch ma'clfiinesYVtoV move'switches WI and WIa', to their reverse position. In asimilarmanner, movement of lever V3 controls the Voperation of switch machineSMB Ito move switchrW3` to normal ortofreverse. Y io Itis believed 'thatan Vunderstanding ofthein-V vention `canr'best'be obtained byYdescribing the Y various operations which occur, during the control oftraiiic movements. For vthis purpose, it will first ,beassumedrthatswitches WI and WI a ofw the crossover are in their normal position, as

Y shown, Vand that thegoperator moves signal lever' V2 toV the Rposition to clear signal RZA'to permit a traflic movement Vfrom left torightvover trackl Y Y. Asle'ver`V V2" is moved Yfrom position Ngthe v1pick-up circuit for relay ITPS is opened atcontact NL of lever V2, butrelay II'PS'Y remains Y picked Yup, over its stick circuit. Whenlever'V2 "'is'movedlbe'yond position contact Ld opens the pick-up andstick circuits for relay IES.V Relay vIES accordingly releases, and itsfront Acontact I6 opens'a second pointY in its own stick circuit .`..k YY RelayV IES also, 'at front contactV I4, opens lonej i of the twomultiple paths inthe--pick-up circuit Y for relay A ITPS, and at itsfront contact 28, opens' the circuit for lock magnet MI. Magnet MI ace-vcordingly releases vand drops itsV locking dogf2l into,.thewnormalnotchof; segment 23, therebyf 1ocking.,svvitcl'i"leverVIk against movement.Re-

lay YI ES likewise, atg` its `frontfcontact ,30,Yopens1. 20 f thecircuit forlock magnet M3, which releases and drops its locking dog 22into the normal notch of itsV segment 24, therebylocking switch controlYIf now an approachingtrain enters section T,

lever VV2 beyond Yitsfindicfation position d. `In this position Vthesignal circuits are open,Y the signal leversbeing arrangedinaccOrdanCeWith ment or the lever irom'itsj Rt'o its d position or ithe usual practiceV so thata cleared signal may- ,beV V;

returned to its stop position manually by a movef ,ci y Y I fromA its Lto its oposition, as'the case may be.

If now a'train accepts thefcleared signal R2A,

and enters sectiOnIT, track relay -I'IR releases f and, at back contact34,.'closesV an obvious circuitjV forV magnet M2 Ywhich again picks up'and'lwith- .draws the locking dog'II from the notch Vin segment I9,enabling the operator to return lever VV2VA Y to its'norm'al position N.Relay ITR 1also,.at its I'IPS. Relay ITPS then'releases, its front,Vconf Vtact32 opening a'second point in its stickY circuit, its frontContact l5 opening a second point inthe pick-up circuitfor relay IES',and its back 'contact 33 'closingra pointin Va pick-up circuit forrelayIWS. Front `Contact, 26 of relaycITPS openfsa second point in thecircuit for lever lock magnet vfr'ont'conta'ct I l, opens'th'e stickVcircuit for'relay MI thereby preventing movement of switches WI and'wljathrough the medium Yof switch lever vlY l Y i ,While section IT isoccupied. Switch lever V3 controlling-switch W3 Vremains locked becauserelay IES is still deenergized.

When the train enters section 3T, track relayV STR releases and,at frontcontact`29,;opens a second point in the circuit for rmagnet'M3, therebypreventingmovem-ent ofl switch W3Y while sectionV IT,'t'rack relayYI'IR" again picks'up, and e v assuming the operator'tofhavel restored@signal lever'VZto its normal positiomgat front contact 7' Y,

I I `again completesA the Vpick-up circuit Vjfor relay- I'I'PS.V Whenrelay ITPS picksfup, its ffrontc'on-LY traced for relayIESQwhile itsfront contact26 4tact I5 completes the pick-upV circuit previously,

closes one of the twopoints opened in the circuit for magnet MI. `Whenrelay IES picks up, Vits ToY front contact 28 completes the circuit formagi" Vnet ,MI which aocordinglypicks upto withdraw Relay locking dog 2Ito unlock. switch lever VI.

IESalso, at front'contact 3U closes one of the Y two points openedvinthe circuit Vfor magnet M3,

tion 3Tis1occupied. When the Ytrainvacates secso that this magnet canpick up to withdraw its locking dog 22 to unlock switch lever V3 as soonas the train vacates section 3T. It will therefore be seen that whensignal R2A is cleared, relay IES functions as an ordinary route lockingrelay.

It will now be assumed that switch lever VI has been reversed and thataccordingly switches WI and and WIa are in their reverse position, andthat signal lever V2 is moved to its R position to clear signal R2B fora traffic movement from left to right from track Y to track X over thecrossover. If now a train moves past signal R2B and enters section IT,track relay ITR releases and effects the release of relay ITPS. Thecircuit changes effected by the release of relay ITPS are the same asalready described, magnet MI releasing to lock switch lever VI. RelayIES also releases and performs the same circuit changes as alreadydescribed, except that, since lever VI is in its R position, its contactRy in multiple with front contact 30 of relay IES is closed. Lock magnetM3 therefore remains energized and lever V3 is left free to be moved bythe operator, this being permissible because the route which has beenestablished does not include switch W3.

With lever VI in its R position, one branch of the pick-up circuitpreviously traced for relay AITPS will be open at contact N032 of leverVI and, on account of relay IES being deenergized, the other branch ofthis circuit will be open at contact I4 of relay IES. Relay AITPS will,however, remain energized over its stick circuit.

When the train vacates section IT, if the train is short enough to bewholly included within section U, track relay ITR will pick up beforerelay AI TR releases, and these relays will for a time fail to show thepresence of the train on the crossover track. The switch locking howeverremains effective even though the operator has in the meantime restoredsignal lever V2 to position N, because relay IES will not pick up whenrelay ITPS picks up, as in the case of the movement over switch WInormal previously described due to the fact that the pick-up circuit forrelay IES is now open at Contact NI of switch lever VI, this lever beingnow in its reverse position. `Relay IES will therefore remain releasedafter the train vacates section IT, thus holding the circuit for lockmagnet MI open at front Contact 28 while the train remains wholly withinsection U, and switches WI and WIa: therefore remain locked. When thetrain enters section AIT, track relay AITR releases and, at its frontcontact I3, opens the stick circuit for relay AITPS. When relay AITPSreleases, its front contact 21 opens a second point in the circuit formagnet MI to prevent MI from picking up as long as section AIT remainsoccupied, and its back contact 35 which is in multiple with contact NxIcompletes the pick-up circuit for relay IES. When relay IES picks up,its front contact I4 closes to prepare a pick-up circuit for relay AITPSand its front contact 28 closes one point in the circuit for magnet MI.Front Contact I4 of relay IES is included in the pick-up circuit ofrelay AITPS in order to insure that even though relay AITR isdeenergized but a short time due to the high Speed movement of a shortmotor car over the crossover, relay AITPS will remain deenergized untilrelay IES is picked When the train vacates section AIT, relay AITR againpicks up and at front contact I3 closes the prepared pick-up circuit forrelay AITPS. .Relay AITPS then picks up and at front contact 21completes the circuit for magnet MI, which, in turn, picks up towithdraw its locking dog ZI to enable the operator to again move switchlever VI to effect movement of switches WI and WIa.

It will be observed that lock magnet M2 of signal lever V2 is energizedas long as the approach section T is unoccupied and that therelfore freemovement of the lever to any of its several positions is at such timepossible. If the operator moves lever V2 to the R position to clearsignal R2A or R2B and then attempts to return the lever to its Nposition after approach section T has become occupied, locking dog Il ofmagnet M2 will at the time be in engagement with a notch of its segmentI9 and so will prevent the immediate restoration of lever V2 beyondposition d. When contact Ld becomes closed, relay IES will pick upprovided relay ITPS is energized and lever VI is normal, closing contact28 to energize magnet MI. It is to be understood, however, that lever VIcan be moved only when lever V2 is in position N owing to the fcustomary mechanical locking arrangement effective between levers V2 andVI and that lever VI is locked mechanically by lever 'V2 when V2 is inother than its N position. It will be evident,

therefore, that when signal RZA is put to stop 38 and 4I), its backcontact 3l opens the circuit from terminal B, contacts Ld, I5 and 38,relay ,Y

IES to terminal C. Relay IES, therefore, picks up and at front contact28 again closes a point in the circuit for magnet MI. The time elementmechanism A2TE may now be restored to normal to close back contact 3'Ito complete the circuit for magnet MI to unlock switch lever VI at theend of a predetermined time interval. In practice this time interval ismade such that a train approaching in section T will either be broughtto a stop before entering section IT, or if unable i to stop will entersection IT and cause contact 23 to yopen before contact 3l closes so asto maintain the locking effective until the train vacates section IT.

It will Vnext be assumed that a train accepts signal R2B and enterssection IT, and that lever V2 is then restored to position N, but thatthe train does not enter section AIT but backs of section IT with a Viewto making a subsequent movement over track Y under the control of signalRZA. Relay IES having been released, magnet MI is deenergized to locklever VI so that switches WI and WIal cannot be restored to normal. Thelocking may be released in this instance by Operation of the timerelease mechanism'AZVTE Vtorclosecontact 3.8VVV thereby energizing Y Y jrelay IES torclose contact 28, andby then Yrestoring mechanism AZTEtojnormal to'close Contact 31 to'complete the circuit for magnet MIthereby vreleasing the locking ofv lever VI sogthat switches `WI and WIamay be restored to normal to per- Vmit signalRZA to be cleared toeifectithedesired Ytrain movement. rIt will Yberevident, therefore, YthatV the apparatus of my invention providesV complete time lockingprotection againstY theA m'ove; ment of switches WI and WIa whenaftrainY oc- Vcupies thernon-track circuited sectionvU'.

My apparatus can also be Yemployed to jadvantagerto protectYtrainmovements over a crossover in "which section `IT adjoinssection'AIT,

' .but which is so infrequently usedthat the crossover track maybecom'e'heavily coated with rust (vso as to interfere vvwith theV propershunting of*v the track circuitsbylight-'weight equipment; asV Y 270 vitwillV be Yevident that relay IESwill'maintain f; Vthelocking.effectivewhile'thertrain is uponthe crossover andfuntil itreaches the Vcleanrails of 'theV` main YVtrack portion ofgs'ectionlAI'Irrto shuntYVthet'rack'relay A'ITR. l

The route locking and time element lrelease 'ciri cuits -havingto doWithfa trafic'movement to the YV'left ,iro'mj track to: l trackv Y overthe crossover f involve theoperationof'relays AITPS andY IWS and' timeelement mechanismalI'I'E and are sim'- ilar to Yandfunction in the samevmanner as the corresponding'circuits f for Ythe ,opposite directiononeresult of clearing signal R2AV is to release relay'IEStolockswitchlever V3jas already-pointed havingto do withV acorresponding;`traflio move- VAment tothe left overtrackV X aredifferently 'ar-v ranged. Thus route Ylocking relay IWS -ispreventedfromjreleasing when lever V4 is moved to' the left teclearsignal LA by reason of the connection from terminalBzover contact Nm3when switch lever VIv is in vits normalposition, so that Y relayi IWS,does not control'the locking 'circuits' Vfortracl: YV when switches YWIand W:Ia are nort- 0f relayV IWs wiirpe simuarto'that of relay InsVV-blV'Signal lever V2. f Y

mal. ',ItV will Vbe apparentfhowever that when switch lever'VI isin Vitsreverse rposition and sigi.

nal lever VilVA has been moved to its L position to clear signal LGBVfor a crossover move the control In Fig. 2 I have illustrated 'myinventionV appliedto the same track arrangement as employed in Fig. 1and'involving thejsa'me` trackfrelays,Y jY

traclrepeating'relays,and Wayside signal equipment.Y The invention, asshown inFig. 2,y contemplates the remote control ,of the switches andsignals either over-'1a Vdirect Wire system orV Y through the medium Yofanyone of; the e' well j YVknown centralized/traino controlY systems. In

this form ofY my invention'iremote controlled switch control relays IXand IY, 3X and SY-andY remote controlled signal control'relaysRZHS andvLiHS take the place .of the signal Vlevers employed inthe form Yof theinvention illustrated in Fig. Y1, while approach locking relays IELSandV IWLS take'the `'place of .lever locking; Va'nd'emer- Vgency releaserelays; IER, ,and 2ER.',.and4T thermal Y ATTE. Y

place of the time element mechanisms A2TE and In Fig. 2, in4 order toVVprevent unduly complieating the Vdrawings,contactsof various oftherelays employedl'ar in Vsortieinstances.not 'ad Y jacent their relay,but in each such -instance a reference character corresponding totherelayV to'. which a'.V contact belongs isassociated ,withfl Y thecontact in addition to thel usual reference numeral given to suchcontact.

"I'he control of switchesWI anclWl/Tlul and ,ofV Y switch W3 in Fig. 2is effected by means of Vpolarized switch controlYV relays IWR andSWR..V'I he Ynormal control circuit 'for Y relay IWR maybe traced fromterminalV B, Contact 43 of `relay IWLS, contacts 25, 2 5, 21, and 28 ofrelays IWS,

BZTE,y respectively, back contact? 5 of reverse switch control relay.IX, front Contact] of "nor-1V mal switch controlk relay JY, relay 'IWR,frontY Y, contact A8 oirelay IY, back Contact 9'of relay yIX e toterminal C,"this circuit ,beingY completedwhenY relay IY; is energizedandrelay IX is deenergized,

i to energize relay IWR in the normal direction.

The reverse control circuit forrelayfIWlR,` is'sirniil Y lan/butincludes frontcontacts 6 and Sand back` VI'IPS, AI'IPS, and IES,respectively,V back 'con-lf tactM of the emergency release relayIER,-back contacts 66 and 51 of Y'thermal relays BATErandf relay IWR inthe Vreversefdirection when'relay-1Xk Y isenergized and relay IY isdeen-ergized;k Conl"tacts 25 to'23V arethe same' as Vthe contactsbearing the same references'in Figflf,v and Ycontacts `IS o andG'Icorrespond in function to 'contacts 35 and 31 in Fig. 1; and it followsYthat relay IWR is dethese' contacts under conditions corresponding tothe locking of lever VIiloy magnet MI in. Fig. 1, while Contact lItaswill hereinafter appear,"opens to deenergize relay IWR under conditionscorre-.-

Contact v44 is a .ch'eclr'fcontact which Vinsures that relay'IERisdeenergized beforeV the' locking is" released. Thelocal Vcircuits by-means energized Vbythe opening offene or 4another'of .spondingtothe:lockingoi VleverA VI Yby lever 'V2' in'Figl 1.

of which relay IWR controls the switch machines Y SMI 'andSMIa have beenomitted to simplify'the i' drawings, but it is tobe understood thatswitches Y. Y

WI and WIaare caused to moveto normalorrtoYV reverse when relayIWRisenergized in its normalor reverser-direction', respectively, and areY Ylocked againstoperation WhenrelayV IWR is` dern energized;

A polar switch indication .relay IKR. isas'soci-fV ated with switches WIand Wla in the usualV manner, and it is'to Vbe'uriderstood Ythat relayIKRis energized to close its polar contactsrto the left when switches WIand Wld are locked normal andl to the right whenthe switches are locked`A similar arrangement is providedfor the con` trolY of switch W3rbyrelay SWR, the circuit for.V

relay SWR, like the circuit of lock magnet M3 of Fig. 1, includingcontacts 29 and 30 of relaysASTR and IES, contact 3U'b`eing shunted byav'Contact 55 'of relay IKR which takesthe place of Contact R21/V' 'ofFigjl and is closed whenfswitches Wl'and Wla are reversed. Thecircuitsfor, relaysrITPSand AITPSf`are-the'sameasin Fig. V1 except that the'pick-'up circuits include Vback contactsS and ISf 'of signal controlrelays R2HS and LGI-IS, respectively, Vinstead V'ofthe lever contacts NLandlNR, Y

similarV to those employed in Fig. l except that polar contacts'M and'I6 of relay IKR are substituted for lever :contacts NI andY Nm3, thecir- Y'and contact I4A in the circuit of relay AITPS is Y Y shunted'bynormal contact I3 of relay IKR in place of Vlever Contact N312.'YLikewise the circuits for the route locking relays YIES andV IWS 'areYcuits of Fig. 2'also including front contacts 53 J5 VlofY closed overback contact 62 of relay ITPS. Re#V and 54 of approach locking relaysIELS and IWLS in place of contacts Ld and Rb of the signal levers, andcontacts 58 and GS of time element relays B2TE and BliTE in place ofcontacts 38 and 39 of time element mechanisms A2TE and AIITE.

Approach locking relay IELS is normally energized and has threepick-uprcircuits, one of which may be traced from terminal B, contactsR2BI and R2AI closed by signals RZB and RZA, respectively, in the stopposition, front contact 5I of an approach relay RQAR which is a repeaterof track relay TR, back contact 5I] of thermal time element relay ZTE,relay IELS, to terminal C. The second pick-up circuit is similar to thatjust traced except that it includes back contact 52 of relay ITPS whichbridges contact 5I when relay ITPS is deenergized. The third pick-upcircuit includ-es contact EI of a stick relay 2TES controlled by relayZTE. Relay IELS has a stick circuit which may be traced from terminal B,

, contacts RZBI and RAI, front contact 5l and Cil Winding ofA relay EELSto terminal C. Relays 2TE and ZTES serve to pick-up relay IELS in theeventy signal RZA or RZB is put to stop when there is a trainapproaching in section T and relay RZAR is consequently deenergized, aswill hereinafter be pointed out. Relays IWLS, ITE and TES are providedwith circuits similar to those of relays IELS but which are controlledby contacts L4AI and LlBI closed by signals LIA and L4B, respectively,in their stop position, and by relays AITPS and LAAR, the latter relaybeing a repeater of track relay AZTR.

It is believed that a clear understanding of the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 2 can best be obtained by describing the various.operations which occur during the usual traffic movements. It willfirst be assumed that the operator has energized the signal controlrelay REI-IS in order to clear signal R2A for a train movement overtrack Y from left to right with switch WI normal. The circuits forclearing the signals form no part of the present invention and thesecircuits have therefore not been shown. It is believed sufficient toexplain that these circuits are controlled in such a manner that eithersignal REA or RZB may be cieared depending upon the position of thepolar contacts cf relay iKR and hence upon the position of switches WIand WI a, of the cross.- over, when relay RZHS is energized.

When the relay RI-IS is picked up, signal R2A moves to its proceedposition, and signal contact RZAI, which is closed only when signal REAis at stop, opens the circuits for the approach locking relay IELS.Relay IELS accordingly releases and at its front contact 53 opens thecircuits for route locking relay IES. Relay IES then releases, and itsfront Contact 28 opens the circuit foi` switch control relay I WR, sothat theoperation of relay IWR through the medium of the remotecontrolled relays IX and lY is prevented, thereby locking switches WIand WIa against movement. Since the switches WI and W la are normal, thepolar contacts of relay IKR will be to the left, as shown, so thatcontact 'I3 of relay IKR is closed to bridge contact I4, therebypreventing relay IES from interfering with the control of relay AITPSwhen the route set up does not involve track X. Contact 55 of relay IKRis open, and since contact 30 of relay IES is also open, relay SWR isdeenergized to lock switch W 3.

lWhen the approaching train enters section IT, relays ITR and ITPSrelease, causing signal R2A to return to stop to close contact RZAI,whereupon the pick-up circuit for relay IELS becomes lay IELS picks up,closing contact 55 in the circuit of relay IES, but relay IES remainsdeenergized because contact I5 of relay ITPS is now open. As soon as thetrain enters section 3T, track relay STR releases andrat its frontcontact 29 opens another point in the circuit for relay 3WR. RelayR21-IS may now be released by the operator to close back contact 45 sothat relay ITPS will pick up when the train vacates section IT, and thensince contact 14 of relay IKR in the pick-up circuit for relay IES isclosed, the closing of contact I5 of relay I'IPS will cause relay IES tcagain become energized, closing contact 23 in the circuit for relay IWRto release the locking for switches WI and Wla. When the train vacatessection 3T, relay 3TR will pick up to close contact 29 in the circuitfor relay SWR to release the locking for switch W3.

It will'now be assumed that switches WI and Wla have been reversed andthat relay R21-IS has been. energized to` clear signal RZB. YWhen thesignal clears, contact RQBI opens the circuits for relay IELS and thisrelay releases, opening contact 53 to deenergize relay IES. The

route set up in this case does not include secrv tion 3T and theoperation of switch W3 is not interfered with by the release of .relayiES because contact 55 of relay IKR is now closed to v the rightbridging contact i of relay IES in the circuitfor relay SWR.

When the train vacates section iT, ifY it is short enough to be whollyincluded within the section U, track relay ITR will pick upA beforerelay AITR releases as pointed out in connection with Fig. 1. If theoperator releases R21-IKS, relay ITPS will pick up when the trainvacates section IT but relay IES will remain deenergized because itspick-up circuit is open at contact 'M` of relay IKR, and switches WI andWIa will remain locked by relay IES as long as the train remains whollyvWithin section U. When the train enters section AIT, relay AITRreleases,

deenergizing relay AITPS to open contact 21 in the circuit for relay IWRand closing back contact 35'to complete the pick-up circuit for relayIES. When relay 'IES picks up its front contact I4 closes to prepare apick-up circuit for relay AITPS and its front contact 28 closes onepoint in the circuit for relay IWR.

When the train vacates section AIT, relays AITR and AITPS pick up. RelayAITPS then closes contact 2'I'to complete the circuit for re-l lay IWRto release the locking for switches WI and Wla.

If the operator clears signal RZA or RZB and then returns the signal toits stop position manually, the operations which follow will depend onwhich route has been set up and also upon the condition of the approachsection T. If section 'I' is unoccupied. and the operator releases relayRZHS to manually return signal RZA or RZB to stop, the pick-up circuit`for relay IELS becomes closed over contacts RZB! and RZAI and contact5I of relay RZAR as Soon as the signal returns to its stop position.Relay IELS will then pick up and if switches WI and Wla are normal,`contact 'IIIv of relay IKR will be closed so that relay IES will pick upand the release of the switch locking will be obtained Vwithout delay.If, however, the switches WI and WIa are in their reverse position,contact 14 of relay IKR will be open, and to pick up relay IES torelease the switch locking it will be necessary for the operator toenergize the remote con- 'whichfmay be 'traced from terminalgB; contactsContact B2i of relay IES- to Yterminal C. lt jisf'rto *Y Y Vbe; Illnderst'ool that 'theV contactsV of the thermalY Y the end fof apredeterminedV heating period closes 1 5 its front'gcon'tactV 6 8Vbridging contacts I4 and'35 f 2o;re1 ay'B 2'rE., after', a predeterminedcooling pe;

'-rrorrnal'v position; andl back contact f6] f ag'ain *j fcloses toplace the'relayL IWR'under f remote 'controlled relays V,I X V'and IY.'

C; Rela-y ZI'ES picksup, opening the circuit'for contact59 to Ycomplete'Vitsfstick circuit. Relay bridges contactsSI and '6 2in"th e pick-upcircuit` for-relay IELSY. Relay 2TE@ i s nowideenergized,

1 pleteits stick circuitand 55,51 to releaserelay ZTES.

- lIt will-{next beassumedgtlia 1 Y, A operatordeenergizes-relayzlitZHS; butf thatY the train 'doesnot Vjenter sectionA I Tr'but backsv out of (50v section "ITVYwith alviewV to making asubsequent VYrelaycIES'willhavebeen"deenergizedjand will The switcheswill therefore remainloked, Vsub-i Y Vv7 0"operation o f c trackand overthe crossover and invclvingrelays f -relayshereinishownjare of {thebi-metallic type L ,and completing thefpick-'up Circuit for VrelayVIES.' v Relay IESthen picks up, completing y its Y. Vstick circuit, asVVwill be V clear from the Vdrawings;k I Yand atits backcontact 2;opensV the' circuit'for 1 riod Vthe vcontacts fofYV relay 132] TErestoreto'their ogntrol :or

' 25 j 1f i the approach -secuoniT is occupied; ifiays Y 45 relay-'ZTEand closing .front Contact 58 tovbrid'ge ZTES also closes lts'fifrontcontactjl which pletes :the pick-'up 'circuit forA relay; IELSyWhichfthen picks up, closing; front contact 5'I` to comopening back contact.V

'Y :-remains`obecause Contact 14 of re1ay `IKR isfopen.

' ,Y .j fjectgtoi manual release aftera timeldelayxbythe the emergencyrelay IER as alreadyj f L third s ection,} respectively;A in accordancewith v thepositioniofthe crossover switches, meanso'r-f: ments fromjright to'left over the upper stretch of Y" i e I Y meme Y Y Y Y trolledemergency; release relay` IER. When 'ref tionirithesame mannerlasthecorrespondingrelay IER picks upf the thermalg time Velement YYrelayABZI'E .becomes energized over a circuit and theirrnanner of operationwill therefore bef clear 'without further Y explanation. Y Since,Y VhowVever, the1upper stretchof track is not provided with 'a vswitchcorrespondingrtojW3 the route lockingIrelay I WS sprevented fromreleasing when contactj` 16"of relay IKR is Vin its normal position, andit follows that as in'Fig'. 1, relay IWS does not" fswitches WI fandWlarare normal,VY It will' be. apparent, however, that when the relayYIKR; is Y Vin its reverse position andrelay LIIHS is picked up w o toclear signal LIB for a crossover move the opera# tion of relay IWS willbe similar toi that ofrrelfayY 1' 1 IES as hereinbefore described. ff Yit will be'clear from theforegoin forms of Vmy invention'lereinillustrated provide fulltime locking protectionAVA against the opra- Ytion of vswitches WE- and Wld ifaftrainmoves over vention",itisunderstood that various changes andV modications mayY be madetherein, within thej scope' Yof the appended'claims withoutdepartg,ingrrirom'th'e' spirit andscopeof myfinvention;Y y' Havingthusdescribed my invention, what I' L: l airn 'isp-' `v Y* tion of trackadjoiningfoneof said sections,'=a j` f 1 crossover includingVtrack'switche's and extendin Y Lbetween saidfadjacent sections, 1anormallyY ener Yincluded- Yin Ya' locking circuit. *for said switches,

two signals including onelior' governigfrtraing movements over therouterextending from onefad jacentV section over the crossover totheotheriand f fypone for governing train movements Yover the routeYV.extending from said-onefsection to saidY third VVsection,v YmeansY forAeffecting the release 'of said if route lookngrelaywhen eithersignal iscleared; means including Vthe v.track relayj for saidone ad?Y 1 jacent section,forenergizingrsaid route locking?v relay rendered eiectiveswhenYthe train; vacates rrrsaid one, adjacent s ectinipr'ovided VVthe routerailway track each provided with,atia;ck circuit', I

including a normally energized track relayre' normallyrenergized routelocking'relay;V having two'signals for governing train movements .intooneof said adjacent sections andover the crosse; over into the otheradjacent Ysection orinto saidV effecting the release of said routelocking relay;

lays 'andcircuits employed" in traffic movements Y from left to rightover thellowerr stretch of track;

'control tl1e,locking 'circuits for track Y when, shortf time interval,Y-relay BZTE' opens' its 'back'.

Contact 61 in the circuito'f relay IWR, and atV` the 'crossover andfails for a timetofshuntthe, 'f

railway trackfea'ch'provided 'with a Ytrackicircuit:`` l

' `giz'ed routelocking relay having Va front contact 4a AY.estalolishedincludes saidthird section, and means leased when Vthe section's'occupied, a third track 1 section adjoining oneY ofi-'said sections`including .l a Ysidingswithjfa crossover including 'twoltra'cklswitches for connecting Ysaid adjacentV sections,` a?

4 vfront{c ontacts includedin locking circuitsforYsaidf'fY' crossoverswitches and ffor said'j sidingY switchfjyV when either signaliscleared, means lcontrolled v 'by the 'track relay of said one sectionfor pickingV 7 5 up said route locking relaywhen the train vacates suchsection provided the route established includes said third section,means controlled by the track relays of both adjacent sections forpicking up said route locking relay when the train vacates one and'enters the other of said adjacent sections provided the routeestablished includes the crossover, and means for bridging the routelocking relay contacts included in the locking circuit of the sidingswitch when the route established includes the crossover.

3. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track each includinga track switch and connected by a crossover track to provide a traflicroute at times from one section to the other when said switches arereversed, a plurality of manually controllable signals for governingtrain movements into said sections, switch locking means for lockingsaid switches against movement when a signal is cleared for the movementof a train rom one adjacent section to the other, means -for releasingsaid locking means automatically when a train governed by such signalhas entered and vacated such other section, and time element meanseffective to cause the release of said switch locking means after adelay period in the event the cleared signal is returned to its stopposition manually.

4. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track each includinga track switch and connected by a crossover track to provide a trafficroute at times from one section to the other when said switches arereversed, signals for governing train movements into said sections,switch locking means for locking said switches against movement when asignal iskcleared, means for releasing said switch locking meansautomatically when a train which has entered one section with saidswitches reversed enters and vacates the other section, means forI alsolocking said switches against movement as long as the section rstentered by the train is occupied irrespective of the position of saidswitches, time element means for at times effecting the release of saidswitch f locking means in the event a signal is returned to its stopposition manually, and other means for effecting the immediate releaseof said switch locking means when a signal is returned to its stopposition manually provided the switches are normal and there is no trainapproaching within a predetermined distance of the signal.

5. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track each providedwith a track circuit, a crossover including two track switchesconnesting said sections, a relay for each section controlled inaccordance with the condition of the associated track circuit, a signalfor governing the movement of traffic from one of said sections to theother, a signal lever for clearing said signal, a route locking relayhaving a pick-up circuit including a normally closed contact oi saidlever, a front contact of one of said track controlled relays and a backcontact of the other track controlled relay, a stick circuit for saidroute locking relay including one of its own fronty contacts and thenormally closed contact of said vlever, and means preventing themovement of 'said switches when said route loclnng relay is deenergizedor when either track controlled relay is deenergized.

6. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track each providedwith a track circuit, a crossover including two track switchesconnecting said sections, a relay for each section controlled inaccordance with the condition of the associated track circuit, signals-for governing the movement of traiiic into said sections when theswitches are normal and from one section to the other when the switchesare reversed, a switch lever operable to a normal or reverse positionfor operating said switches to normal or to reverse, a signal leveroperable from a normal to a reverse position to clear one or another ofsaid signals depending on the position of said switches, a route lockingrelay having a pick-up circuit including Y normally closed contacts ofboth of said levers and a front contact of one of said track controlledrelays, a second pick-up circuit for said route Ylocking relay includinga normally closed contact of said signal lever, a front contact of oneof said track controlled relays and a back contact of the other trackcontrolled relay, a Ystick circuit for said route locking relayincluding its own front contact and a normally closed contact of saidsignal lever, and locking means preventing the movement of said switchlever when said route locking relay is deenergized or when either trackcontrolled relay is deenergized.

7. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track connected by atrack switch, a signal for governing train movements over the routeincluding said two sections, signal control means for clearing thesignal, a normally closed track circuit for each section each includinga track relay, a normally energized stick relay for each of saidsections, a normally energized route locking relay, means for releasingsaid route locking relay when said signal is cleared, means forreleasing the corresponding stickfrelay, manually controlled means forpicking up said stick relays, means for picking up said route lockingrelay eiective when said signal' is put to stop provided the stick relayfor one section is energized and the stick relay for the othery sectionis deenergized, and means elIective when said route locking relay isdeenergized or when either track relay is deenergized to preventoperation of said switch.

8. In combination, a railway trafc route including two adjacent sectionsof railway track connected by a track switch, a normally closed trackcircuitV for each section each V'including a track relay, a normallyenergized stick vrelay for each of said sections, a normally energizedroute locking relay, a signal for governing train movements over saidtraffic route, manually operable signal control means for clearing thesignal, a normally energized approach locking relay, means actuated bythe signal when cleared to effect the release of said approach lockingrelay, means responsive to release of the approach locking relay foreiecting the release of said route locking relay, means including one ofsaid track relays and one of said stick relays for picking up saidapproach locking relay' when a train governed by said signal enters thefirst section of the route, means including the other track relay andthe other stick relay for completing a pick-up circuit for said routelocking relay when said train enters the second section of said route,and means effective when said approach locking relay or said routelocking relay or either track relay is deenergized to prevent operationof said switch,

9. In combination, a rst and a second section of railway track, a trackcircuit for each section each having a track relay, a track switch forestablishing a traffic route from said rst to said second section whensaid switch is vreforfclearing Vsaid signals, meansreleasingvsaid routelocking relay'when either signalis cleared, means controlled by thetrack relay IoriV the firstl .sectionfor'picking up said route'lockingVrelay I when atrain'governed by-said first signal Vvac'ate's l the'firstsection, Ymeans*controlled by thertrack relay for the'secondV sectionfor picking up Ysaid4 `V`r'oiite' locking relay when a Vtrain governedby YAYsaid second lsignal enters V4the Y"second"section,- manuallycontrollable time "element means Yef-` Vv"lectiv'e to pick-upsaid routelocking relay'when @a Vcleared Vsignal'is man`ually restored ato stop,

' fand meansV preventing the operation of the track Y switch'-whensaidfronte locking relay is deener'- giz'edfor when either ofsaidtrack'relays is 'de- 10. 'In combination, a stretch}oflrailwaytrack L l,divided' intoga firstanda secondfsection, aA first anfd a second Ysignal; for VYgoverning; traic move- V,ments -in',op'p'osite directionslover said Ystreteh, Y.

Vv,manually controllable means for 'clearing said Vrst signal, ,otherjmanually controllable means ffo'r'clearingsaid secondY signa'La first'and a secondlrrroute locking relay,` a rst andV1 a secondY stick relay,a -YpicVk-'iip circuit/for said rstfstick Y f reiay arranged .to beopened if sin secondrpuie locking relay isvdeenergized orV Vii Vsaidr'stsignal Yfis clearedjbyrjsaldl rst manually controllable`v means, aYstickcir'cuit lfor fsaidY first stick .relay Vclosed only, ifsaid/first track section is unoc-l fY v cupied, da.tpick-upv?circuit forsaid second stickf re`` l "-layr' arranged; to bepopened saidf rstVroute lockirigf'relag.isVV deene'rgized or; if said second Vvsignaliscleared by saidI other'manually control'- 1 lablezmeans, aVsti'ck'circuitifor said 'secon'dsticks VYfrelayclsed,r'ily if saidsecond track sectionris unoccupied, a pick-up'circuit for said'firs'trouteV locking relay controlledgby a front contact-'of Ysaid n rst stickrelay'and by a back contact Vof y f. saidjsecond stick.Y relayQa stickcircuit for said first route'lockin'g relay'closed if said first signalisfcontrolled to flndicatestop, a 'pick-upcir'ciiit' Yforsaid secondroutelocking relay controlled by afrontfcontactlof said secend` stickrelay and Yia back` contact of `said'rststick relay, a stick circuitfor' said second?y route lockingy relay' closed ifV said.isec'ondsignalis controlled.,to'jindicate stop;V and track switchescontrolled bysaid first and-second route locking relays.' i. Vl1.Injeombinationfa stretchaof railway track VV"dividedinto aiirstl and-a;second section, aiirSt Yand a second signal for l'governing trafficmovements in opposite VVdirectionszr over Vsaid;stretch,

Ymanually controllable'. Vmeans for Yclearing said Iirst Vsignal,Vother.,manually,A controllable 'means "fori `clearing?'saidsecondgsignal, ja rstLand ngai" 'second' route locking 'relayQfa ilrstand a second j V sti'ckrelay, fa'pick-up'l and a stickcirc'liit for saidY iirst Ystick grelaylfeaj'ch Y off'which isv opened byf aYtrainfentering'fsaidfnrst section, al'contact con-r A S ftrolledbyfsaidfirst manually controllable fmeans and]arcontact'controlled by saidsecond route g lcckin'g'relay'for alsoopening'the pick-up'circuit t-fcr' Vsaid ,rstv'rstick relay if said ,rstsig'nab is f 1 'cleared or ifsaidsecond route 4locking relay Vis l'deenergized respectively,apickupand aY stick circuit for said second stick Vrelay eacliof which Yfis opened. by a trainlentering said second-' section, I `contactYYcontrolled t by.Y said second rmanually i 'Y route'locking relays.

controllable means andra csti'i'ntactV` controlled by said rst reutelockingrelay for Valso opening the pick-up circuit forsaid second stickVrelay iffsa'id second signal isV cleared, a front contact of said'vsecondstick relayand a back Vcontactofsaid`Y iirst stick relay includedin series in the pick-up circuit-for saidV second routerlocking relay,and 1 i.

trafiic' governing means for/said stretch'of track contrc'alledv by saidstick and route locking relays. 12. In combination, astretcliofu'railway track`V 20 Vand afsecondsignal for governingtraffic, move-V Y Y mentsjin opposite directions overl said, stretch,

divided into fa; rstand a Vsecondsection, a first manually controllablemeans forc'lean'ng said sig- 'nals, a'first and a second route `lockingrelay, a 25,

first and a second stickrelay, means for deener` gizing said rstorsecondroute locking relay whensaid first orsecond signal respectively iscleared,jmeans for d'eenergizing said7 first Vor second stick relay whena 4train enters said first orsecond track section respectively,f `1^r1eansffor Venergizing said rst or'second stick relay'wheng said'rst orsecond signal respectivelyiscontrolled 'gto' indicatestop, meansforfenergizing;Y said first routelocking relay whensaid first stickrelay-is j; energized'and said second stick relayisideen?,`Y

ergized, means forenergizing Vsaid second router* locking relay whensaid second stickrrelay is en-j1 Y' ergized'and `said rstzstickY relayisdeener'gized,

and -trailifc" governing means for said stretchfof"`V` if 1 trackcontrolled by said'stickfand route'flocking relays.

713, In'combination, a stretch of railway" for governing traic movementsover said stretch,-

Vdivided into a rst andra second section, a signalVv 1 for governingtralic movements over said stretch, Vmanually controllable means forclearingrsaidosig- "nal, a route locking relay, a stickA relay, means jfor deenergizing ,said route` lockingrelay'wl'ienV said signalisclearedpmeans for deenergizing said stick-'relay/Ywhen atrainfenterssaidlrst section,` Y means'for energizing said stick relay if saidV sig-V :nal is lcontrolled to indicate stop providedthex train leaves saidrst section, Vmeans fr energiz-Y VingV said route locking relayVivfjsaid stick *relay isenergized anda trainV enters said secondsec'-tion, and Yothertraific governing'l'means for said,VV

stretch controlled by saidstickand route' locking Yrelays. rf j i Y 114. In combination,-astretch of railway track "f divided intol a firstand a secondsection, a signal manually controllable means forclearingfsaid signal, arcate `'lockingYV relay, a stick relay, a con- 1trol circuit fr-said-route locking-relayfopened if Y' 'Y A said signalis cleared, a second control circuit for `said'r'iute 'locflningvr relayclosed if Vsaid stick relay` Y is energized Vanda traink enters .saidsecond track` section, a control circuit for said stick relay fYopened'if said first tracksection lis occupied byV a train, a secondcontrolcircuit for said stick re-V Y Y' VcateV stonand other traiiicVgoverning nieansfor` 7 controlledby'said stick and lay closed when'saidsignal is controlled tofindisaid stretch of track HARRYC.VAN'I'iissiiiL. v

